Vehicle and direction indicator therefor



Oct.,5, 1937. R..ANDERsoN ET A1. 2,094,776

VEHICLE AND DIRECTION INDICATOR THEEEEOE Original Filed March 22, 1953 4Sheets-Sheefl l dersn l Hude/'sgg [Illu/'r f l/ I u Vl I .bww/w @j SRH mII nu O R I IMU? W n' H I I I I wm N e A II lb 0 8 BY 5ml/e Oct. 5,1937. R. ANDERSON ET AL VEHCLE ANDDIRECTION INDICATOR THEREFOR OriginalFiled March 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill n NvENToRs Oct. 5, 1937.

R. ANDERSON ET A1. 2,094,776

Original Filed March 22, 1933 irgl/ .mf-Z" Oct. 5, 1937. R. ANDERSON ETAL 2,094,776

"VEHICLE AND DIRECTION INDICATOR THEREFOR Original Filed March 22, 19354vSheets-Sheet 4 .3N SN n. A N N I MQW www www @SN Wm.. aa N wwf?.i`mww\ N .KV I l 1 ee M f l i @..WTIMIW ,w r I FMH@ f I O NNW mwxh @WNWSN Ira NNN www new i m@ m mw Wm www m loa y K s Patented Oct. 5, 193'?uri-ira r'rs rm e VEHICLE ND DIRECTION INDICATOR THEREFOR RobertAnderson and Samuel Anderson, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 22, 1933, Serial No. 662,072 Renewed August 7, 1937 3Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicles and directionindicators therefor and aims primarily to provide a vehicle wherewith adirec'- tion indicator is `combined in such a manner that whenthe latteris in a retracted or non-signalling position it blends or `merges withthe vehicle body, is fully protected against accidental dislodgment fromthe vehicle, is theft proof when the vehicle is parked and locked, anddoes not obstruct the view of the vehicle operator.

roadly contemplated by the present invention is the provision of avehicle having a recess or groove formed within the body thereof, and adirection indicator adapted to normally seat within said recess and tobe moved outwardly therefrom to selected signalling positions.

With the foregoing in View the invention essentially resides and is moreparticularly concerned in the provision of a novel and improvedcombination of a vehicle and directionindicator, which in its preferredembodiment is characteriaed by the employment of a vehicle having anelongated recess or groove formed within the b ody: thereof adjacent theleft hand corner post of same; and a direction indicator mounted withinsaid ss comprisinQV `an elongated luminous semaphore or signal armseatable within the recess when retracted to a non-signalling positionand adaptable to he moved outwardly therefrom to its various signallingpositions, and mechanism for actuating the semaphore or signal armv fromany point conveniently and readily accessible to the vehicle driver,said mechanism including detent means for yieldingly retaining thesemaphore in any desired signalling position and also including meansfor initially setting the semaphore or resetting the latter relative tothe operating lever thereof to insure of same positively seating withinsaid recess at all times, al1 of which are important elements andfeatures. of

the invention and are to be correlated in the broad aim oi enhancing theefficiency of same, for the uses and purposes for which it is primarilydesigned and intended.

The above,v and additional objects which will hereinafter be morespecifically treated are attained by such means as are shown in theaccompanying drawings, des ribed in the following specincation and thenmore clearly pointed out the claims, which appended hereto and form apart of this application.

With reference to the drawings, in which there are illustrated severalembodiments of the invention, and throughout the several views of whichlike characters of reference designate 'lar parts:

=.,.gu-:e l is fragmentary perspective view of an automotive vehicleequipped with the direction indicator comprehended by the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the direction indicaior, as it wouldappear when in a retractedor non-signalling position within its recess.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of thelower portion of the direction indicator, taken substantially through3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken through 1 -4iof Fig. 3, the several operative or signalling positions of thesemaphore or signal arm being illustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a similar section of the same taken through of Fig. 3 toillustrate more clearly theworm gear actuating mechanism of theindicator.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken through 6 6 of Fig. 3,. k

Fig. '7 is a side view of the indicator and its actuating mechanism,illustrating more clearly the manner of mounting the vindicator 'withinthe left hand front post of the automotive vehicle body, also the mannerof mounting the actuating mechanism thereof upon the vehicle steeringpost.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the indicator and rear View of thevehicle post, with the anchoring or supporting plate of the indicatorremoved for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of the hollow transparentsemaphore or signal arm taken through 9 9 of Fig. 2 and illustratingmore clearly the manner of .illuminating the same.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the indicator actuating mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken throughil-ii of Fig. 12.

Fig. l2 is a horizontal section thereof taken through lZ-lZ of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertica transverse section takenthrough it-I 3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic vier-v of the illuminating or lighting circuitof the indicator.

Fig. l5 is a sideelevation of a slightly modied form of the directionindicator, as it would appear when in an enclosed or retractednon-signalling position within its recess.

Fig. 16 is a rear view thereof illustrating more clearly the manner ofmounting the same within the left hand front post of the automotivevehicle body, the several operative or signalling positions of thesemaphore or signal arm being illustrated in dotted lines.

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse section taken through l'i-ll of Fig.15.

Fig. 18 is lan enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of thelower portion of the indicator taken through l--l of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken through IS-itof Fig. 18, certain parts being broken away and certain other partsbeing shown in section for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section taken through 2li-2li of Fig. 17.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the illuminating or lighting circuitof the modied form of indicator.

Fig. 22 is a rear View of another modified form of the directionindicator and its actuating mechanism, illustrating the manner ofmounting the same within the left hand front post and upon the cowl ordash of the automotive vehicle, andV also illustrating in full lines thesemaphore or signal arm thereof advanced and elevated to indicate aright hand turn, with the other signalling positions of said semaphoreor signal arm illus- Fig. 26 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinalsection of the indicator with the semaphore or signal arm thereof shownin an advanced and lowered position to indicate stop or parking of thevehicle, and

Figs. 27 and 28 are vertical transverse sections taken through 21-21 and28-28, respectively,

of Fig, 23. Y

Before taking up a more detailed description of the drawings, a generalexposition of the specic purposes, functions and advantages of the noveland improved-vehicle and direction indicator evolved byV the presentinvention will be undertaken. v

Many objections have been noted to the direction indicators heretoforeemployed upon vehicles, principally among which are: Their mode ofconstruction and manner of attachment to their vehicles rendered thesame unsightly and detracted materially from the appearance of thevehicles; in many instances when in fully retractv.

ed or non-signalling positions they projected considerably from theirvehicles and in consequence were dislodged therefrom by tree limbs orthe like passing between such direction Yindicators and their vehicles;they obstructed Vthe view of the vehicle o erators; they interfered withthe cleaning or washing of the vehicles; and alsoY they were not tamperor theft-proof when their vehicles were parked and locked.'

' Wherefore, it is' the primary object and purpose of the presentinvention toY overcome all of these objections and disadvantages byVcombining a direction indicator with a vehicle in a novel and improvedmanner, to thereby effectually and positively prevent the possibility ofanything coming between the indicator and the vehicle, when theindicator is in a fully retracted non-signalling position within thevehicle; to provide an attractive combination which enhances andembellishes the appearance of the Vehicle; to provide a tamper andtheft-proof combination when the direction indicator is fully retractedwithin the vehicle and the latter is closed and locked; to provide acombination which will not interfere with tne'cleaning or washing of thevehicle; to provide a combination which positively and effectuallyinsures of a clear and unobstructed viewfor the vehicle operator; and toprovide a direction indicator which is rapidlyand readily manipulated bythe vehicle operatorywhich may be located or positioned at any desiredor suitable point upon the vehicle; and which employs a luminoussemaphore arm clearly visible day or night to traffic coming from anydirection.

Beginning now the more detailed description of the invention byv'reference to the accompanying drawings, and referring here moreparticularly to Figs. 1 to 14, inclusive, the numeral l generallydesignates an automotive vehicle, of any well known type, the front lefthand post 2 of which is provided with an elongated recess or groove 3,

formed'within the outer side of same substantially'in spaced parallelrelation to its rear face, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and',said recess 3 having an enlarged recessed lower end portion openlongitudinally at its rear side to the rear face-of the post 2, seeFigs. 2 and 3, and also open transversely at its inner side to theinterior of the vehicle, for purposes which will hereinafter be mademore apparent. Y

YNormally seating within the recess 3 and detachably secured at one endthereof to the post 2, within thel enlarged lower end of said recess, isa direction indicator generally designated by the numeral i comprisingan anchor plate 5 fitting or seating in flush relation within the rearface of the post 2, mortised for this purpose around the opening thereinleading into the enlarged lower end of the recess 3, see Fig, 8, said`anchor plate 5 being removably secured within said post by screws 6.Similarly secured by screws 1 to the inner face ofthe anchor plate 5,and extendingV forwardly therefrom into the enlarged lower end of therecess 3, is a relatively short cylindrical casing'or hollow base 8having an open rear end adaptedY to be normally closed by a diskshapedclosure plate 9, which latter is interposed between the anchor plate 5and the casing 8,

vsee Figs. 2 and 3, and with said casing is jointly and removablysecured toY said anchor plate by the screws 1, see Figs. 7 and 8, and inaddition to said last mentioned screws is also independently andVdetachably Ysecured to the casing 8, as by screws I, see Figs. 3,7'7 and8.

Concentrically disposed and journalled for oscillative movementWithinthe casing 8 is a tubular-'shaped worm wheelV Il having aforwardly extending concentric hub journalled in and pro-V jecting`through the forward end wall of said casing 8, see Fig. 3, for apurpose hereinafter described, and having a rearwardly extendingconcentric hub adapted at its rear end to normally abut the inner faceof the closure plate S and to be journalled thereat upon a centeringstub pin l2 axially-disposed upon and extending forwardly from the innerface of said closure'plate, see Fig. 3, said rearwardly extending hub,in the present instance, being preferably provided with a squareexterior, see Figs. 4 and 5, for a purposeV Y which will alsohereinafter be described.

Detachably secured, as by a screw I3, to the projecting outerV end ofthe forwardly extending hub of the worm wheel l I is the offset anddownwardly convergent hollow lower portion of a radially disposedoscillative tubular member I4, said lower portion, in the presentinstance, being adapted to enoase and enclose the projecting end of saidhub and to snugly abut the outer face of the forward end wall of thecasing 8, to thereby form a substantially water-tightV jointtherebetween, while the upper or tubular portion of said member it isadapted to normally overlap the casing t, in the manner more clearlyillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Snugly fitting or seating at its lower open end upon the exteriorlyreduced or shouldered upper end of the tubular member lll is a tubularsemaphore or signal arm it, which latter extends outwardly from thetubular member l in axial prolongation thereto and at its outer orclosed end is preferably semi-spherical in formation, see Figs. 2 and 9.ln the present instance, the semaphore arm i5 is 'preferably fabricatedfrom substantially transparent or semi-transparent material, which willnot readily break or shatter, such as, Celluloid, or the like, materialbeing preferably red in color, in order to render the semaphore arm iiimore conspicuous during signalling operations, particularly at night.The semaphore arm is adapted to be detachably secured at its lower openend to the tubular member iii, and for this purpose is peripherally orexteriorly shouldered, see Figs. 3 and 5, for abutment with theexteriorly shouldered upper end of said tubular member lil, and ismaintained in abutment therewith by an interiorly shouldered collar orsleeve l, which latter is adapted to snugly fit upon the upper tubularportion of the member itl, see Figs. 3 and 5, and to be detachablysecured thereto by a screw l l", see Fig. 5.

Stamped from the material of the upper terminal portion of the tubularmember i C1, or otherwise formed upon the inner wall thereof, see Figs.3 and 6, is eye it, through which extends and snugly nts a wire i9,which latter functions both as a conductor or ground wire and also as alamp support, said wire for this purpose having its lower end normallyin abutment or contact with the transversely disposed or oifset wall ofthe tubular member iii, see Figs. 3 and 5, wherefrom it extends upwardlythrough' the eye i8 and into the semaphore` i5 for the entire lengththereof, and at its upper or outer end is adapted to be curled inwardlyand downwardly for abutment with the semi-spherical closed end of saidsemaphore arm i5, substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fixedly secured at uniform spaced intervals upon the portion of the wirei9 extending within the semaphore arm it are sockets 2t, see Fig. 9,within which nt or seat, in a well known manner, light bulbs or globes2i, it being here noted, that by reason of their connection with thewire i9, said sockets and light bulbs 25 are grounded through such wireupon the vehicle i. The innermost and intermediate light bulbs 2l are interconnected by a common lead or energy conducting wire 22, while theoutermost light bulb 2i is provided with a separate or independent leador energy conducting wire 23, which leads extend downwardly within thesemaphore arm I5 from their respective sockets 2d and pass through thetubular member ifi into the tubular-shaped worm wheel il, through anopening or aperture formed inthe projecting end of the forwardlyextending hub thereof, see Fig. 3, from whence they pass through thewalls of the rearwardly extending square hub of said worm wheel il, andthrough a sleeve 2li of insulating material, which snugly ts upon and isxedly secured to said square hub for oscillative movement with said wormwheel i i. The lead 22 at its inner terminal is connected to an arcuateshoe or ring segment 2t, while the inner terminal of the lead 23 isconnected to a slightly longer arcuate shoe or ring segment 2S, whichshoes 25 and 26 are circumferentially seated in spaced parallel relationwithin the periphery of the insulating sleeve 2li, with their forward orleading ends in alignment, substantially in the manner illustrated inFig. la.

Normally abutting the periphery of the insulating sleeve and adapted tosimultaneously contact with the forward or leading ends of the shoes 2tand 2t is the bifurcated free terminal of a substantially semi-circularbrush 2li, fabricated in the present instance from resilient orspringlike material, which brush is fixedly seated or secured, in anywell known manner, approximately midway its length, to a block ofinsulation 28 similarly secured to the inner walls of the casing seeFig. fi. Similarly abutting or contacting the other or opposite freeterminal of the brush 2l is a radially disposed post 2Q mounted withinand insulated from the wall of the casing Ei by a sleeve which post 29is connected by a lead or conducting wire 3l, extending inwardly anddownwardly through the transversely open inner side of the enlargedlower end of the recess t, see Figs. 4, 5, '7, 8 and to the battery 32of the vehicle l, see or to any other suitable source of electricenergy. Interposed within the lead t! is a switch 33 for rendering thelighting circuits of the semaphore arm 5 inactive during day driving ifdesired.

To positively and cifectively regulate or ccntrol the uniform and properseating of the sernaphore arm l5 within its recess 3 an adjustable stoppin or screw :iii is provided, which latter for this purpose isthreadedly mounted or engaged within the inner side wall of the enlargedrecessed lower portion of the recess 3, such a manner that the same willbe abutted or contacted by the collar l@ when the semaphore arm l5 isfully retracted to a non-signallimT position, see Figs. 4, 5 and 9.

Actua-tion or oscillation of the semaphore arm i5 is effected bymechanism which will new be described. Meshing with the worm wheel l lis a worm 35 xedly secured to a stub shaft 35 rotatively mounted at itsterminals within bearings integrally formed or otherwise rigidly securedin spaced relation upon the interior walls of the casing 3, said shaftat its lower or outer end being connected by a coupiing el to the upperend of a flexible shaft 35i, which latter extends downwardly andinwardly from, said coupling through the transversely open of theenlarged lower end of the recess 3, see d, 5, 7, 8 and 9, and at itslower is connected by a similar coupling it to the outer end of atransversely disposed pinion shaft fili having .its terminal portionsjournalled for rotation within a sectional gear housing fil. A iiexibletube or casing i2 threadedly secured or coupled at its upper end to thecasing SV and similarly secured cr coupled at its lower end to thesectional housing fil serves and functions to encase or enclose theflexible shaft' lili and thereby protect same against injury or darnage,as will be mani est and apparent.

Fixedly secured in spaced paralie rel-*tion to the interior walls of thesectional housing as by rivets or screws, and extending outwardlytherefrom are clamping bands fili, substantially circular in shape,adapted to encircle the steering post 551 of the vehicle l and to havetheir free ends engaged by hooked outer terminals of clamping screwsllt, the inner threaded terminal portions or which extend into thesectional housing il and are threadedly engaged therein by interiorlythreaded sleeves ist rotatively mounted within the outer side wall ofsaid housthis connection, it may be well to state, that we have found itexpedient in practice to shape that portion of the housing 4l. abuttingVor contacting the steering post #ifi-to conform with the cylindricalcontourof said post, as shown in Figs. 7 and 13, this in order toYsecure more eifective and positive Vclamping action between thehousingV :li and the post 45, as will be manifestY and apparent. Y

Splined to and slidably mounted for axial movement upon the pinion shaft40 is a springpressed spur gear pinion 41, which normally meshes anoscillative spur gear 48 fixedly secured upon a transversely disposedshaft 4Q journalled within the housing 4| in spaced parallel relation tosaid pinion shaft 5Fl, said spur gear. i3 having a rigid pin or stud 50projecting from the outer face thereof adapted to contact or abut stopVpins or studs 5I rigidly secured in Y spaced relation upon the innerwall of the housing ii in the circular path of travel of the pin or stud55, whereby oscillativemovement of the spur gear fle is limited andregulated'which Y movement controls and determines the full oscillativemovement of the semaphore arm l5 from non-signalling position` throughits various signalling positions to the limit of travel of same, asshown by dotted linesV in Figs. l, 4 and 7.

Fixedly secured to the shaft e9 in spaced parallel relation to the .spurgear 48 is a detent or ratchet-like disk 52 having a series'of at facesformed upon its periphery adapted to be progressively or successivelyabuttedV or contacted, during oscillative movements of the spur gearfio, by a spring-pressed dog or pawl 53 pivotally mounted upon theinterior walls of the housing si, in the manner shown in Figs. -11 and12.Y By referring to Fig. 11, it will be observed that the several fiatfaces of the disk 52 vary slightly in length and are disposed atslightly different angles relative to each other, this in order tocompensate for the different amount of movement or travel of thesemaphore-arm l5, between the various signalling positions of same, asfor example, when the semaphore arm l5 moves from a non-signallingposition within its recess 3 to its rst signalling position, indicatedin dotted lines in Figs. 1, 4 and '7, the travel of said arm isrelatively short, then when the same is moved from its iirst signallingposition to its second signalling position the travel of such arm iscomatively longer, as shown in Figs. `1, 4 and 7, le, when the semaphorearm l5 is moved from its second signalling position to its third andfinal signalling position, the travel' of same isV again relativelyshort, hence the reason for the verving angles between said fiat facesand the i@ lengths of same. ir aces, on the disk 52 `and abutting thesame with the dog 53, in the manner herein shown and described, it willbe obvious and apparent that the semaphore arm I5 is advanced step bystep into its various signalling positions and is yieldingly retainedtherein, and also that the vehicle operator will know by the feel andsound of same, when the semaphore arm is in the selected signailingposition without the necessity of diverting his attention from thedriving of the vehicle.

oscillative shaft Y49 is adapted to project` or extend at one endthereof from the housing i see Figs. 7 and 12, and is provided thereatwith a square terminal upon which is mounted an os- By thus providingthese cillative actuating lever'or handle 54 detachably secured theretoby an axially disposed countersunk screwV 55 threadedly engagedwithinthe outer end of said square terminal and having its countersunk headabutting or bearing upon the handle 54, see Fig. 12. f

For initially setting or positioning the sernaphore l5'in the recess, orfor subsequently resetting the same therein as and when necessary,independently of and in relation to the fully retracted position of thelever or handle 54, the outer half portion-of theV pinion shaft 4i? ispreferably formed hollow as shown, said hollow por-- tion havingdiametrically disposed slots 56 formed within thewalls thereof, throughwhich extends an axially sliding flat key 5l adapted to normally Contactand abut the outer face of the spring'- pressed pinion 4l, in the mannerillustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. The hollow portion of the pinion shafti5 is normally disposed in axial alignment or registration withan'aperture 53 formed in the adjacent or forward wall of the housing 4|,see Figs. 10 and 13, through which aperture, during setting or resettingoperations of the semaphore arm i5, is adapted-to be inserted into thehollow portion of the pinion shaft 4ll-thefstem of a tool 55 having abifurcated terminal, seeFig. 13 and dotted lines in 12,'which terminalis adapted 'tostraddletheflatkeyh in the manner indicated in Fig. 13,-sothat when inward or end pressure is applied to the tool 59, suchpressure is imparted through the hat key 5l to the spring-pressed pinion4l causing inward axial Vmovement of the same upon its shaft 413 and itsdisengagement from its correlated spur gear 45, as shown by dotted.lines in Fig. 12, following which the tool 59 is rotated to rotate,through the medium of the flat key 5l', the pinion shaft 45, flexibleshaft 3S, stub shaft 3B and worm 35, from which slight or partialrotative movement is imparted to the worm wheel l l, to effect inwardmovement of the tubular member i4 and semaphore arm l5 and abutment oithe collar I6 with the stop pin 34, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 9, atwhich time said semaphore arm i5 is properly and positively seatedwithin its recess 3 with the lever-or handle 54inafullyretractedposition,see full lines-in Fig. 10, and following eachsuccessive manipulation of the latter, said semaphore arm I5will-similarly seat within said recess 3, until such time as play orlost motion develops inthe shafts orgears interposed between thesemaphore arm l5 and the lever or handle 54, at which time the semaphorearm l5 is reset in the manner described above for initial setting' ofsame. Upon completion Vof the semaphore arm setting, or resettingoperation, the tool 59 is withdrawn, whereupon the springpressed pinionil will again engage or mesh with its V.complemental spur gear 48;

By referring to Figs. l to 12, inclusive, it will be noted andobservedthat oscillative movement of the lever or handle 54 and itscorrelated spur gear 48 is limited by the stop pin 55', on said spurgear, alternately abutting the stop pins l on the sectional casing 4l,hence, it will be manifest' much as, the rear or left hand stop pin 5I,when abutted bythe stop pin 50, effectually prevents further retractivemovement of the lever' or handle 54, and in order to effect proper andpositive seating of the semaphore arm I5 within its recess 3, withoutthe above described setting and resetting mechanism, it would benecessary to dismantle the operating mechanism of the directionindicator 4 and reassemble same, which operation is slow and tedious.

In Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, we have shown the recess 3 of a depthsufficient to accommodate substantially only one-half of the directionindicator 4, while the other half of same projects or protrudes from thevehicle body when in a full retracted non-signalling position, however,it is to be understood, that the recess may be made of any depth, thatis to say deep enough to accommodate the entire direction indicator orany part thereof, as desired when the same is fully retracted. Further,in Figs. 7, 10, 11 and 13, and in the foregoing description, theactuating mechanism of the present direction indicator 4 has beenillustrated and described as mounted upon the vehicle steering post 44,but, it is also to be understood, that such mechanism may be attached tothe vehicle cowl or dash, or' to any other convenient and accessiblepart of the vehicle I, the present showing in each of the aboveinstances being merely by way of illustration.

To actuate the direction indicator 4, the vehicle operator grasps thehandle 54 and turns the same in a clockwise direction from its fullyretracted position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 10, to any of thedesired signalling positions illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. l, 4and 7, the first dotted line position indicating a right turn, thesecond a left turn and the third a stop or parking position. The partialrotative or oscillative movement of the handle 54 is imparted throughthe spur gearing Ill- 48, pinion shaft 40, flexible shaft 38, stub shaft36, worm 35 and worm wheel Il to the semaphore arm I5, to thus move thelatter to the desired signalling position, it again being here noted,that movements of the handle 551 are partially or slightly impeded bythe detent disk 5r and that the clicking of thedog 53 on the flatsurfaces of such disk serves to automatically indicate to the operatorwhen the semaphore arm I5 is in the desired signalling position.

During initial angular movement of the semaphore arm I5 from a fullyretracted position, as above described, the forward ends of the shoes 25and 26 are brought into contact with the bifurcated terminal of thebrush 21, thereby automatically closing the circuits 22-23 of the lightbulbs 2l, and with the switch 33 closed, as in night driving, the bulbs2I yare lighted to illuminate the semaphore arm I5 throughout its entirelength. The shoes 25 and 26 remain in contact with the bfurcatedterminal of the brush 2l until the semaphore arm I5 has almost reachedits fully advanced position, when the shoe 25 passes out of contact withthe brush 2l, while the shoe 26 vremains in contact therewith, wherebythe outer end only .of said, semaphore arm I5 is illuminated by theoutermost or terminal bulb 2l, this for the purpose of furnishing aparking or stop light. Upon return movement of the actuating handle 54,the semaphore arm I5 is returned to its inactive position or point ofrest with its lighting circuits 22-23 opened.

f In the slightly modified form of vehicle and direction indicatorillustrated in Figs. 15 to 21, inclusive, the numeral 60 generallydesignates an automotive vehicle, of any well known type, the front lefthand post 6I thereof having an elongated recess or groove 62 formedwithin the outer side of same, substantially in spaced parallel relationto its rear face, as shown more clearly in Figs. 15, 18 and 20, saidrecess 62 having an enlarged recessed lower end portion openlongitudinally at its rear side to the rear face of the post 6I, seeFigs. 16 and 18, and also open transversely at its inner side to theinterior of the vehicle, see Figs. 16, 17 and 19, for purposes whichwill hereinafter be made more apparent.

Normally seating and enclosed within the recess 62 and detachablysecured at one end thereof to the post 6I within the enlarged lower endof said recess, is a direction indicator generally designated by thenumeral 63 comprising an anchor plate 64 fitting or seating in flushrelation within the rear face of the post 6I, mortised for this purposearound the opening therein leading into the enlarged lower end of therecess 62, see Figs. 16 and 18, said anchor plate 64 being removablysecured within said post by screws 65.

.integrally formed or otherwise rigidly secured upon the inner face ofthe anchor plate 64 to extend inwardly and perpendicularly therefrom,through the opening in the rear face of the post 6I leading into theenlarged lower end of the recess 62, is a shouldered shaft or journalE6, upon the shouldered rear end of which is concentrically mounted foroscillative movement a relatively short cylindrical casing or hollowbase 6'I, said casing being normally disposed within sai-d enlargedlower end of the recess 62 and having an open` .forward end adapted tobe normally closed by a disk-shaped closure plate 68 detachably securedthereto by screws 69, which closure plate upon its outer or forward faceis provided with a worm wheel 'Ill integrally or otherwise rigidlysecured thereto in concentric spaced relation, for a purpose which willshortly be described. Formed upon the shaft 66 adjacent its rear orshouldered end is a squared portion 66a, whereon normally seats and isxedly secured one end of a stationary sleeve 'Il of insulating material,which latter is concentrically disposed within the casing 6l for apurpose hereinafter set forth. The portion of the shaft 66 forwardly ofits squared portion 66a is in the present instance preferably formedhollow or tubular and such hollow portion is a-dapted to extend throughthe sleeve 'II and worm wheel 'I6 and to project beyond the latter,substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 18, this for a purposewhich will also hereinafter be made more apparent.

The numeral 'l2 generally designates a semaphore or signal arm,comprising a plate 13 and a series of elongated lighting elements 14 andl5, respectively, said elements in the present instances, beingpreferably in the form of neon tubes, and of a red color, which neontubes are rigidly secured to the inner face of the plate, in any wellknown manner, as for example,byclamps or straps, see Figs. 19 and 20.The outer lighting element l5, for obvious reasons, is preferably.shaped as an arrow head, substantially in the manner illustrated inFigs. 16, 17 and 21. The plate E3 in the present construction serves adual purpose, that is to say, it forms and constitutes a support forythe neon tubes 'I4-'I5 and functions therewith as the semaphore arm 72,also such the semaphore arm 'I2 is in a fully retracted nonsignallingposition, see Figs. 17 and 20, and for these reasons and purposes saidplate 73 upon plate functions as a closure for the recess v52, when tobe integrally or otherwise rigidly connected to the periphery of theosciilative casing 6l, see Y Fig. 19, for oscillation therewith, Vaswill hereinafter` be madeV more apparent. When the semaphore arm 'l2 isin a fully retracted non-signalling' position, as above described,y themajor andy wilder portion or" the plate 'i3 overlaps and abuts the edgesof the recess see Fig. 20, and thereby compietely encloses the neontubes lli-l5 therein, but, from a point near the lower end of the lowerneon tube see Figs. A15, 16,17 and 19,

the width of the portion of said plate below said V point is siightlyreduced substantially to the width cated by dotted lines in Fig. 17,however, it is to tending leads or energy conducting wires Il and' TS,respectively, which leads at their lower ends extend into insulatingbushings V'lil seated in spaced parallel relation within a boss 8i)exteriorly and integrally formed upon the casing El, see Figs. 15, 16,17 and 19. interposed in the circuit wire 'il for the neon tube 714i isa transformer 'Vla and similarly interposed in the circuit Wire 'i8 forthe neon tube l5 is a transformer. 13a. Connected, within the bushings7S, to theterrninals of the leads Vi-G5 are resilient terminal brushesSi and 8E, respectively, see Fig. 21, which latter areadapted to projectfrom said bushings into the casing t?, wherein they normally abut orContact with the periphery of the stationary insulatingsleeve il, VeeFig. V19. Circumferentially seated within 'peripheryY of the stationarysleeve ii, in the circularV path of travel ofthe brushes iii- 82, is astationaryarcuateV shoe or ring segment S8, of sufficient width atitsupper end 4to accommodate and simultaneously'contact both of saidbrushes 3 l-82 during initial'angular movement of the Asemaphorewarm l2,while, at its lower or opposite end, said shoe S3 is provided with `theshaft thenci through the latter to the forward end thereof, whereat saidlead passesY through-an insulating jbushing 55h seated within the outerend of said hollow portion, thence downwardly and inwardly from saidbushing, through theY transverselyV open inner side of the enlargedlower end of the recessV 52 to said vehicle battery 85. Vinterposedwithin the lead is a switch' for rendering theV neon tubes d-'irrinactive dur'- ing day driving. V Y

To i regulate andVV control the Y seating 'of 'the Vsemaphore arm 'l2within its recess'?, an adjustable stoppin or vscrew 8l is provided,which latter is threadedly mountedwithin.theinnenside and theV hollowVportionof para its inner face and adjacent its lower endisadaptedV wallof the recess t2 adjacent its enlarged owei end portion, in such amanner that the same will be normally contacted or abutted by the boss8E) of the casing '51, when the. semaphore arm l'is fully retractedto anon-signalling position, se Figs. 16, 17, 19'and 20.

Actuation or oscillation of the semaphore arm l2 is effected by thefollowing described mecha- Y nism. Meshingwith'the worm wheel Z8 is aworm 88 flXedly secured to a stub shaft 89 havingl its terminal portionsjournalled for rotation within a bifurcated bracket 9d, see Figs. 18 andi9, which bracket is secured, as'by a set screw El! to the forward'orprojecting end of the stationary shouldered shaft S6, see'Fig. 19.connected by a flexible shaft 92 to an'actuating mechanism, not shown,which mechanism if desired may be identical in construction to thathereinbeiore described .for the direction indicator 4, and for thispurpose, the flexible shaft 92 extends Vdownwardly and inwardly fromYthe stub shaft 89, through the transversely open'side of the enlargedlower end of the recess "52, see Figs. 16, 17,18 and 19, into theinterior of the vehicle, and at its lowerV end is connected, as abovestated to the selected type of actuating mechanism. A flexible tube Vor.casing 93 threadedly secured at its upper en to the rachet i453 servestoencase the flexible shaft Q2 and thus protect same against injury ordamage. Y

The direction indicator 53 is actuated by'rot'ating the iiexible shaftQ2, stub shaft 89 and worm 88, in any approved ordesired manner, toelect partial rotation of the worm wheel 7G andthus move thersemaphorearm "i2, integrally connected therewith as hereinbefore set forth, vtothe desired signalling: or angular. position. During initial angularmovement ofthe semaphore arm 72 from its fully retracted position withinthe recess 62, the brushes 8i and 82 simultaneously Contact with theupper end and widest portion of the stationary shoe 83,.therebyautomatically closing the circuits ll' andA 'i8 of the neon tubes E4 andl5, and with the switch 35, closed, as in night driving, the neonY tubes14 andfl5 are lighted to illuminate the .semaphore arm l2 throughout.its entire length.

The brushes 8| and 8?. remain in contact with the shoe 83 until thesemaphorearrn l2 Yhas almost reached its fully Vadvanced position, whenthe brush 8l passes-out of contact with'the shoe 83; while the brush 52remains in contact with the Y. extension 83a of said shoe 83, wherebythe outer The stub shaft 89 is end only of the Vsemaphore arm 'l2 isilluminated by theV neon tube 75, this for the purpose of furnishing aparking or stoplight. UponV return movement of the semaphore arm 'i2 toits inactive Vposition Vor point of Vrest within its recess 62, the

lighting circuits il and l' are again open, as will befobvious andapparent'from theforeg'oing and V by referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

By fabricating and mounting thedirection indicator 63 upon the vehicle60 in the manner herein shown and described, it will be manifestandevident thatdsuch indicator when in a fully retracted position withinits recess 62 will blend andmerge'with the surface ofthe vehicle bodyandwillV not detract from the appearance or sym- .an automotivevehicle,of any well known type, YS5 the front left hand post thereof, and 9.5/the cowlor dash of same,th`e latter having a transversely disposedelongated casing or housing al, preferably of rectangular cross-section,mounted upon its forward face, said casing at its outer open end beingseated within and extending through the post 5, see Figs. 23, 24 and 25,and at its inner closed end being detachably secured, as by screws 98,to -the forward face of the cowl or dash Qt, see Figs. 22, 23 and 28.

Normally seating and slidably mounted within the casing Sil' is adirection indicator generally designated by the numeral 99 comprising asleeve it@ mounted for reciprocative movement within the casing 97', tothe outer end and upper portion of which is pivotally connected, as by apin ili, an outwardly projecting socket it?, wherein is detachablysecured, as by a screw H53, the inner end oi a reciprocative andoscillative cylindrical semaphore arm lll provided adjacent said innerend with a guide collar or enlarged portion lila and at its outer endwith a conical head or cap i535, while, the intermediate or shankportion itl thereof, is in the present instance, preferably painted witha luminous red paint, in order to render the semaphore arm mi moreconspicuous during signalling operations, especially at night.

The reciprocative and oscillative semaphore arm iil and its complementalreciprocative sleeve lil@ are mounted for free axial sliding movementwithin the casing Ql, this in order to effect rapid and ready outwardmovement of said semaphore arm fromr within said casing to its initialor horizontal signalling position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. v22,in which position the semaphore arm E04 extends from the casing 9i inaxial prolongation thereto, and from whence it is oscillated up or downto other signalling positions, in a manner which will shortly bedescribed. During sliding or reciprocative movements of the semaphorearm Hilft within the casing said arm is adapted to be maintained andretained in axially aligned relation therein by its guide collar |05,the latter for this purpose having a free sliding or working fit withinsaid casing, see Figs. 23 and 24, wherein said semaphore arm itil isshown in a fully retracted non-signalling position, at which time, theconical head it@ thereof is in abutment with the outer face of thevehicle post 95 and is also seated within and completely closes theouter open end of the casing Si. Manifestly, therefore, with thesemaphore arm E04 in the position just described, the directionindicator 99 is completely enclosed within the casing 91, with theexception of the conical head ltd, which latter does not in any Waydetract from the appearance of symmetry of the vehicle body and may beprovided upon its outer face with any desired or selected design tofurther enhance the appearance of said vehicle body.

Reciprocation and oscillation of the semaphore arm itil is effected bymechanism which will new be described. Pivotally connected, as by a pinHilti, to the inner end and biiurcated lower portion of the socketmember ill? is one end oi' a swinging bar or link 669, which bar isnormally disposed within and is 43o-extensive with the reciprocativesleeve Hit, see Figs. 23 and 26, and at its opposite end is similarlyconnected, as by a pin lill, to the lower end of a depending oscillativearm iii fixedly secured at its upper end to a shaft H2 mounted foroscillation within the inner end and upper portion of the sleeve itil,which shaft at its rear end is adapted to project therefrom through aneloning in its extended position, as rabove described, ii a gated slotH3` formedlengthwise in the adjacent or rear wall yof the casing @l andalso through a similar slot lill formed within the cowl or dash 96 inalignment and registration' with the slot H3, said slots H3 and iidbeing disposed in transverse relation to the vehicle fili, as shown inFigs. 22 and 24. Fixedly secured to the rear or projecting terminal ofthe shaft iii! is an operating knob H5, the reduced or shoulderedforward end of which extends through the slots l I3 and i i4 forabutment with the rear wall of the sleeve lili), see Figs. 24 and 28.Formed in spaced relation within the upper edge of the swinging bar 129,substantially midway the length thereof, are notches IIE, lil and Hi8,respectively, within which is adapted to selectively seat the freeterminal of a resilient detent member l i9 Xedly secured at its oppositeterminal to the upper wall of the sleeve l im, as more clearly shown inFigs. 23 and 26, said notches and detent member being provided for thepurpose of yieldingly retaining the semaphore arm iii@ any desired orselected signalling position, as will hereinafter be made more apparent.in this connection, it should be here noted, that the free terminal ofthe detent member M9 normally seats within the notch Il'i, see Fig. 23,when the semaphore arm llll is disposed in axial alignment with thecasing 91, and is only unseated therefrom, when said arm is oscillatedto its up or down signalling positions illustrated in Figs. 22, and 26,at which time, said detent member terminal is seated within the notchlit when the arm itil is down or in the notch itil when said arm is up.To positively limit oscillative movement of the semaphore arm it@ up ordorm from its initial horizontal position indicated .in

Fig. 22, the upper edge of the swinging bar l!) is provided adjacent thenotches it@ and tit with upwardly extending lugs i2@ adapted to bealternately abutted by the free terminal of the detent member i i 9,when the semaphore arm i243 is at its limit of upward travel ormovement, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 22 or when the same is atits limit of downward travel as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 26.

In actuating the direction indicato-r ed, the vehicle operator graspstheI knob l l and moves the same from one end of the slots H3 and lill,sce Fig. 24, to the opposite end of said slots, see Fig. 22, and iny sodoing causes the interconnected sleeve itt and semaphore it to moveoutwardly in the casing Si to the horizontal position indicated indotted lines in Fig. 22, and if the vehicle is making a left turn, thesemaphore arm is left in such position until completion ofthe turn,whereupon the operator moves the knob M5 to the inner endvof the slotsH3 and lill, thus withdrawing the semaphore arm |64 within the cas-However, with the semaphore arm tell right hand turn is to be made theoperator turns the knob H5 clockwise to the position indicated inFig..22, to thereby disengage the detent member il@ from the bar m9 andthus permit the latter te swing outwardly and in so doing elevate orraise the semaphore arm Het?, through the medium of the socket memberit?, to its right hand signalling position indicated in full lines, inFig. 22, at which time the free terminal oi the detent member H9 willdrop into and seat within the notch H3, and simultaneously therewith theadjacent lug I2@ on the bar it will abut said member and thus positivelylimit and prevent further outward swinging movement of CIJ said bar 1G33and in consequence further upward swinging movement of the semaphore-armld. With the free terminal of the detent member i iii seating in thenotch lit in the manner Vjust described, the Ysemaphore arm ltd isyieldingly maintained and retained in its elevated position, and whenthe right hand turningA movementof the vehicle has been completed, theoperatorV again grasps knob l l5 and turns same counter-clockwise,therebyY releasing the free terminal of the detent member iid from thenotch il and thus permitting the bar ldd to swing inwardly and .in doingdepress or lower the semaphore arm to its horizontal position, at 'whichtime the free terminal of the detent member drops into the notch lli, tothus yieldingly retain d semapnore arm in said horizontal position,whereupon the latter is withdrawn within the casing Si, in the mannerhereinbeore described. assuming that the semaphore arm ltd is itsadvanced horizontal position, or initiai signailing position, abovedescribed, 'and it is desired to move the same to a stop or parkingYposition, then and in that event, the operator turns the knob l l5counter-clockwise, to thereby disengage the detent member il@ from thebar its and thus permit the latter to swing inwardly and in doingdepress or lower the semaphore arm t to the position indicated in Fig.26, at which time the ire terminal of the detent member i is drops intoand seats within the notch l I6, and simultaneously therewith theadjacent lug or stop it@ on the bar it will abut said detent member andthus limit and Vprevent Yfurther inward swinging movementof said bar H39Vand in consequence furtherV downward swinging move# nient oi" thesemaphore arm W'ith the free terminal oi the detent inember i i9 seatingin the notch i i5, as above described'the semaphore arm idd yieldinglymaintained and retained in its depressed position, and when it isdesired to return the semaphore armiiil to its casingrgi', the operatoragain grasps the knob li and turns same clockwise, thereby disengagingthe free terminal of the detent member i iilvirom'thenotch I i6 and thusperntting the bar Hit to swing outwardly -id, in so doing cie-vate orraise the semaphore m it to its horizontal position, Vat which time thefree terminal of the detent memberi ld Vagain drops into the notch Il?,whereupon the sema-Y phore arm is withdrawn within the casing intheYmarinera-s hereinbeioreset forth. Y l In the present disclosure we haveelectedY to illustrate and Ydescri e the types of directionindicatorsnow preferred by us, but, it is to be' that other types of directionind-` cators may be employed in combination with the recessed vehiciebodies herein disclosed, the present showing being merely byway ofillustration, inasmuch,

orspecic points upon the vehicle bodies, we alsoY desire to have itunderstoodV that these recesses may be located at any other suitable orconven-V ient points upon said bodies. i i Y Maniiestly, therefore, bymounting adirection secure by VLetters Patent isz--Y l as V- the presentVinvention broadly contemplates any type of vehicle body indicator upon.a vehicle body in the manner herein disclosed, the presence oi such anindicator thereon will'not be readily detected when the cleaned withoutdanger of dislodging the indicator as nothing can come between thelatter and said body. Further the vision ofthe vehicleoperator is notobstructed nor interfered with in any way, and further the directionindicator is theft and tamper-proof whenV its vehicleV is Vparked andlocked; l

While, we have herein shown and described the inventionV with sui'icientdetail, to enablethose skilled inthe art to which it pertains, tounderstand the mode of construction and the principles involved, it isto be understood that there is no intentional limitation herein to thespecific form and precise details of construction shown and described,except as expressly Vdefined by the appended claims, and that variousmodifications of the same may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention'or the benefits derivable therefrom. It is alsoto be understood that certain features of `the invention hereindisclosed may be employed in and withoombinations other Ythan-thoseshown and described.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to i.. The combination withan automotive vehicle Vbody having a vertically disposed elongatedrecess with enlarged lower end tor-med within one of its posts, or" ananchor plate mounted Vupon said'post adjacent the enlarged'lower end or"said recessjan elongated direction'innicator normally seating in saidVVrecess and havinur enlarged lower cnd portion seatable in thesimilarly enlarged portion oi'Y said recess, means ior pivotallyconnecting the enlarged lower end oi said indicator to said anchor platefor oscillative move- Yment relative thereto, and means ier swinging thedirection indicator outwardly from said re- Y cess to selectedsignalling positions.

2. The combination withan automotive vehicle body having a recess formedtherein, of tion indicater'comprising an anchor pl ed upon saidbodyadjacent one end of sa Va' casingjseatable within said end andV adaptedto beV attachedY to said anchorjplatega semaphore Varmpivotally mountedon said casing and adapted tonormally and snugly seat in said recess,and means for swinging the semaphore'arm outwardly from the'recess toselected signalling positions.

V3. The combination with an automotive vehicle body having a recessformed therein, of a direction indicator comprising an anchor platemount-V ed upon said bodyadjacent one end oi said recessa casing seatedwithin said end and attached `.to said anchor plate, a semaphore armYpivotally mounted on said casing and adapted to normally and snuglyseat in said recess, means -for closing said Vrecess whenrsaid semaphorearm is in its non-signalling' position, and means for swinging theksemaphore arm outwardly from the recess to selected signallingpositions. Y

ROBERT ANDERSON. Ysar/ions ANDERSON.

